A CCTV drain survey sends a small waterproof camera through your pipes so an engineer can see blockages, cracks, roots and displaced joints without digging. Catching these early is almost always cheaper than dealing with a collapse, a flood or subsidence later.
What a CCTV Survey Finds
- Build-ups before they block: fat, scale and silt narrowing the pipe.
- Cracks and fractures: often caused by ground movement or traffic.
- Displaced or open joints: common in older clay pipes, and an entry point for roots and rats.
- Root intrusion: fine roots through joints that grow into dense mats.
- Collapses and deformation: including pitch fibre pipes that have flattened.
- Misconnections: such as a washing machine plumbed into a surface water drain.
Why Early Detection Matters
Blockages are common and costly. Water UK says 300,000 sewer blockages occur in the UK every year, costing £200m a year to clear up. In your own drains, a crack or root found early can often be cleared and relined without excavation; left alone, it can lead to a collapse that needs digging up.
When to Book a Survey
- Before buying a home: see do you need a CCTV drain survey before buying?
- Before an extension: to locate drains near the foundations; see Herts extension drain rules.
- Repeated blockages, smells or gurgling: to find the real cause.
- Signs of damage: damp patches, sinking paving or rats; see signs of a collapsed drain.
- After flooding or building work: to check nothing was damaged.
What Happens on the Day
- We lift the manhole or access point and, if needed, jet the line clean so the camera can see.
- The camera is pushed through the pipe while we watch the live picture and note distances.
- We can trace the line from above to mark its route and depth.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations, explained in plain English.
What It Costs
Our domestic CCTV surveys start from £150, and a pre-purchase survey with a written report is from £180. See CCTV drain surveys for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a CCTV Survey Take?
Most domestic surveys take one to two hours on site, depending on access and the length of the drains.
Will My Insurer Accept a CCTV Report?
Insurers often ask for CCTV evidence when assessing a drain claim. Check with your insurer what they need.
Book a Survey
Drain 247 has carried out drain surveys across Watford, Hertfordshire and North West London since 1986. Call 0208 387 5591.
